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Kentucky University of Toledo Eastern Murray State University WKU Xavier UC Morehead State University Louisville BGSU BSU Kent State| Northern Kentucky University | Mars Hill University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
NKU | Mars Hill University | ||
| Location | Highland Heights, KY | Mars Hill, NC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 14,961 | 1,049 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #912 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | nku.edu | mhc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
NKU | Mars Hill University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,512 | $37,270 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,096 | $37,270 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,660 | $10,228 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $8,151 | $19,842 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,492 | $28,914 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 98% |
Admission |
NKU | Mars Hill University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,417 | 1,393 | ||
| Admitted | 6,162 | 1,085 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 96% | 77.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21% | 29.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 916/1133 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
NKU | Mars Hill University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
NKU | Mars Hill University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 37% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,700 | $32,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,950 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $257 | $279 |
Diversity |
NKU | Mars Hill University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 24% | 2% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 82% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 22% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 1% | ||
| % International | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
NKU | Mars Hill University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 71% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 28% | 38% | ||
Campus |
NKU | Mars Hill University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Northern Kentucky University is larger than than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (14,961 students vs. 1,049 students)
NKU vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, NKU or Mars Hill University?
- Mars Hill University is 254.5% more expensive to attend than NKU for in-state tuition ($37,270.00 vs. $10,512.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.7% higher at Mars Hill University than Northern Kentucky University ($37,270.00 vs. $21,096.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Kentucky University than Mars Hill University ($8,151 vs. $19,842)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 14% lower than costs at Northern Kentucky University ($10,228 vs. $11,660)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Northern Kentucky University as Mars Hill University (98% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 151.6% larger than aid received Northern Kentucky University ($28,914 vs. $11,492)
NKU vs. Mars Hill University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, NKU or Mars Hill University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mars Hill University or NKU .
- The average SAT score at Northern Kentucky University (1068) is 156 points higher than at Mars Hill University (912)
- Incoming NKU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Mars Hill University (20)
- Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at NKU (3.42)
- NKU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than Mars Hill University (77.9%)
NKU vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, NKU or Mars Hill University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mars Hill University and NKU.
- The graduation rate at Mars Hill University is higher than Northern Kentucky University (38% vs. 37%)
- Graduates from Northern Kentucky University earn on average $7,400 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates after ten years. ($39,700 vs. $32,300)
- Northern Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,050 lower median federal student loan debt than Mars Hill University graduates. ($24,950 vs. $27,000)
- NKU graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Mars Hill University graduates. ($257 vs. $279)
- More Mars Hill University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NKU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/